Former Players: Frei retires from international football

Criticised for his recent performances with Switzerland (read previously), Alexander Frei announced this Thursday that he would retire from professional football at the end of this season.

A goalscorer for FC Basel in yesterday’s Champions League fixture against AS Roma (2-3), Frei explained that his decision had been taken in accordance with the “signals from groups of person who openly expressed the fact that [his] time with the national team was up”, and this despite a large amount of support towards him.

National manager Ottmar Hitzfeld “regretted” the decision, but was also satisfied that his striker and captain would remain available for international football until summer 2011. Aged 31, Frei scored 40 goals in 81 games with the “Nati”.